Chapter 3

"How did you know?"

"Dorian kidnapped many common mermaids and used us for experiments. Drawing blood. Stripping scales."

"He said that if it worked, he could create a true soul-swapping ring."

"I was number 387. All the others died."

The black number branded on Lily's shoulder looked like a wound that could never heal.

Every one of my ladies-in-waiting had gone pale with horror.

"He's mad… is he mad?"

"Do you want revenge?"

Lily nodded hard. Tears rolled from her eyes and fell into my open palm, where they became two perfect, round pearls.

Her gaze suddenly fixed on my hand.

Lily: "That ring — whatever you do, don't put it on!"

Lily: "It's a dark magic ring. It will kill you."

"I know."

I knew all of it. The person Dorian truly loved was Rosaline, his childhood sweetheart. But Rosaline had been frail since birth, and his family would not permit him to marry her.

So he sought out a dark sorcerer and used forbidden arts to craft two soul-swapping rings — one for me, one for Rosaline — intending to place Rosaline's soul into my body.

To that end, he had kidnapped countless underage common mermaids.

He had tormented them. Drew their blood. Stripped their scales. Extracted the essence of their lives to forge the rings.

Lily was the 387th. And the only one to survive.

"The moment I put on the ring, the dark magic nearly killed me. But I lived."

"My parents loved me. My brother loved me. Their love protected my heart."

"And so, as a transparent soul, I witnessed everything — and then I came back."

Lily: "I am close to death. My only wish is revenge. Can you truly help me?"

"Yes. I swear it."

Lily: "Then… would you give me that ring?"